1 Samuel 19 – “David Escapes Death”

Hebrew-English TextI. Summary
Saul fails to kill David. Michal helps David flee to Ramah where he stays with Samuel.

II. Photo
David barely escapes with his life: “Saul tried to pin David to the wall with the spear, but he eluded Saul, so that he drove the spear into the wall. David fled and got away.” (v. 10a)

III. Important Verses
6: Saul heeded Jonathan’s plea, and Saul swore, “As the LORD lives, he shall not be put to death!”
9-10a: Then an evil spirit of the LORD came upon Saul while he was sitting in his house with his spear in his hand, and David was playing [the lyre]. Saul tried to pin David to the wall with the spear, but he eluded Saul, so that he drove the spear into the wall. David fled and got away.
13-17: Michal then took the household idol, laid it on the bed, and covered it with a cloth; and at its head she put a net of goat’s hair. Saul sent messengers to seize David; but she said, “He is sick.” Saul, however, sent back the messengers to see David for themselves. “Bring him up to me in the bed,” he ordered, “that he may be put to death.” When the messengers came, they found the household idol in the bed, with the net of goat’s hair at its head. Saul said to Michal, “Why did you play that trick on me and let my enemy get away safely?” “Because,” Michal answered Saul, “he said to me: ‘Help me get away or I’ll kill you.’”
23-24: He was on his way there, to Naioth in Ramah, when the spirit of God came upon him too; and he walked on, speaking in ecstasy, until he reached Naioth in Ramah. Then he too stripped off his clothes and he too spoke in ecstasy before Samuel; and he lay naked all that day and all night. That is why people say, “Is Saul too among the prophets?”

IV. Outline
1. Saul plans to kill David
2-7. Jonathan persuades Saul to reconsider
8. David is victorious yet again
9-10a. David escapes Saul’s murder attempt
10b-17. Michal helps David escape
18. David flees to Samuel in Ramah
20-24. An explanation of the phrase “Is saul too among the prophets?”